Synopsis= This poem is centred around a young school girl, who grows into adulthood which we can perceive through a stream of consciousness told by the speaker. Through each stanza we see a different time period that the child goes through. The poem explores various qualities of "good" teachers ans how early childhood ambitions become so easily clouded and adulthood becomes more of a simulation.
Key Quotations + Analysis
1.) "Her kind intelligent green eyes, her cruel blue one"-
3.) "You breath on the glass"-
Key Quotations + Analysis
1.) "Her kind intelligent green eyes, her cruel blue one"-
- This has a symbolic connotation as it displays two different perceptions of teacher, an admiration (a younger perception of teachers) and resentment (for the teacher somewhat fooled her as he was not prepared for the real world during her time at school).
- As she grows older the speaker gets more and more cynical about teachers. This could imply that she realises they are not perfect or that she is somewhat blaming them for her downfall.
2.) "South Sea Bubble Defenestration of Prague"
- The speaker of the poem randomly displays a burst of random knowledge, this mimics the random facts/ knowledge that we acquire through school. The fact that the two events are placed together but have no real association towards each other convey that the facts taught to the speaker have no real meaning to her now she has grown as she has lost enthusiasm to learn and acquire knowledge, however at the time of her early childhood learning these facts was seen as joyous and recalling them to the teacher was done so with pride.
- This is a very childish thing to do.
- Glass is transparent from which we can infer that the speaker can see the purpose of her education clearly (glass gets less clear as she ages)
- This line comes after the speaker has named the teachers which she dislikes, the word choice "swish" is a key use of sibilance which gives it a harsh effect, this could link to the harsh punishment used by teachers which is the cane. The effect of this choice could perhaps portray that Duffy is criticising the harsh form of punishments that teachers used to enforce.
- Here the writer purposefully places this line as the final line to show that the messages teachers press into the students have a permanent effect on the way they grow up, implying that in a wider context the purpose of teachers is very influential for the growth of children.
- This phrase is also a syntax, this could signify that Duffy is trying to present that childhood should not be rushed and made the most of to ensure you grasp every opportunity
Themes in The Good Teachers
- Education
- Passing of Time
- Regret
- Childhood
Links to other poems=
Well tread= the speakers of both poems have a cynical portrayal of education, in particularly the power of teachers "Stalked the forms".
Stafford Afternoons= Both speakers expose themselves to the dangers of adulthood prematurely and show a sense of regret for doing so.
lovely work :)
ReplyDeletethank you so much, this is very helpful:)
ReplyDeletegreat analysis, helped a lot.
ReplyDelete